Ed Reed, Brian Cushing miss Texans' spring workout

HOUSTON -- Safety Ed Reed missed the Houston Texans' first spring workout on Monday as he recovers from hip surgery in Colorado.

Coach Gary Kubiak said Reed is "doing really well."

The nine-time Pro Bowler signed a three-year contract in free agency and will miss organized team activities.

"The expectations are for him to leave Colorado sometime this week," Kubiak said. "But it's going good."

Linebacker Brian Cushing will also miss OTAs as he recovers from left knee surgery. Cushing tore his anterior cruciate ligament after a rolling hit by New York Jets guard Matt Slauson on Oct. 8.

He said his rehab has gone well and he has no restrictions on the knee.

"There haven't been any setbacks," Cushing said. "It's felt great, I'm starting to feel like me again. That's a hell of a feeling, considering how hard it was some mornings just to get up.

"But it's just night and day and it's in the past. It's full-throttle now, and I'm going to go as hard as I can until I'm back."

First-round pick DeAndre Hopkins took the field for the first time with Andre Johnson, the star receiver that Hopkins was brought in to complement with his big-play ability.

"I'm not thinking too much about it, I'm thinking through it," Hopkins said. "I'm trying to make everything perfect."

Hopkins impressed coaches at last weekend's rookie minicamp and Johnson said Hopkins has been a quick study this week.

"He seems to know everything," Johnson said. "I haven't seen him make any mistakes as far as lining up or anything like that and he hasn't busted any plays. It's all been positive so far."

Quarterback Matt Schaub, who missed OTAs last year as he recovered from a broken foot, said Hopkins already carries himself like a veteran.

"It's only day one out here, but you see that he's not got the `deer in the headlights' look," Schaub said. "He's ready to go and is very positive and just works hard."

With the addition of Hopkins, Johnson thinks the Texans will have the best collection of receivers in his time in Houston. Hopkins joined Lestar Jean, an undrafted free agent in 2011, and 2012 draft pick Keshawn Martin in Monday's drills.

DeVier Posey, a third-round pick last year, watched Monday's practice from the sideline as he recovers from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in the playoffs.

Kubiak said Posey is ahead of schedule in his rehab and wants to beat the projection that he'll start the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

Montgomery and Williams play outside linebacker and Kubiak says OTAs provide a good opportunity for Reed to explore the new spot.

Reed has been an outside linebacker since the Texans drafted him in 2011 and he's been working with Cushing to learn to play inside.

"Your eyes have got to be better, and that just takes discipline and repetition," Reed said.

Linebacker Darryl Sharpton also participated after hurting his hip in the Texans' regular-season finale. Kubiak said he'll be "protective" of Sharpton and keep him out of some special teams drills.

Cornerback Brice McCain was also back "on a temporary basis," Kubiak said, after breaking his left foot in a Dec. 2 game against Tennessee.

Setting the tone, 2012 defensive player of the year J.J. Watt was the first non-kicker to take the practice field on Monday morning.

"We have a lot of new faces on this team and we have to let them know what it's like to play in this organization and be playing in this city for this team," Watt said. "There is a culture around here -- you work your butt off. That's what you have to learn."